I Really Like You

I Really Like You

Carly Rae Jepsen

“I Really Like You” is the lead single from Carly Rae Jepsen’s third studio album, E•MO•TION. Lyrically, it features the saccharine, adolescent hallmarks of her breakout hit “Call Me Maybe”. It came accompanied by a charming video starring Tom Hanks, who was asked to star by Jepsen’s manager Scooter Braun over drinks and dinner. Hanks was only too willing to join.

As the album’s first single, Carly explained that she sent song after song to the label, without really knowing which would work. She admitted to The Guardian that she has “zero ear for the radio apparently”. In subject matter, it is similar to the adolescent, innocent kind of love affair of “Call Me Maybe”:

It’s basically saying, ‘It’s not love yet, but I like you, so what do you think?’ It’s a bit of a hook-up…I mean, there’s no spanking going on if that’s what you’re asking. You’re barking up the wrong tree!

Scooter reportedly told Carly that she wasn’t allowed to put out a new single until “it was on the level of ‘Call Me Maybe’”. In response, she understood the burden of having one song completely outshine all the others on the album, leading to her surprise slow-burner “All That” released as a promotional single.